chew

[[t]tʃu[/t]]

v. t.

1) to crush or grind with the teeth; masticate

2) to tear or mangle, as if by chewing (often fol. by up):

The sorting machine chewed up the letters[/ex]

3) to make by or as if by chewing:

The puppy chewed a hole in the rug[/ex]

4) to meditate on; consider at length (often fol. by over):

to chew a problem over[/ex]

5) to perform the act of masticating

6) inf Informal. to chew tobacco, esp. habitually

7) phv+sts chew out, Slang. to scold harshly

8) an act or instance of chewing

9) cvb something chewed or intended for chewing

•

- chew the fat or rag chew the scenery

Etymology: bef. 1000; OE cēowan, c. MLGkeuwen, OHG kiuwan chew′er, n.